Seal



Sept. s, 1931. W MLLER' 1,821,984

SEAL

Filed May 24. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l F' 7|5 '4L a 7 y @V5 d j@ 1 w.. w 5 a' 6/ .6 7

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Sept 8, 1931- w. MULLER A 1,821,984

SEAL

Filed May 24, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Paten-'ted Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES IMANUEL WILHELM MLLER, OF NEUENBURG, GERMANY SEAL Application filed May 24, 1929, Serial No. 365,690, and in Germany December 24, 1928.

The present invention has reference to improvements in metal seals for securing the doors of railroad freight cars, for sealing various kinds of containers, boxed goods in 6 transit, and for ot-her like purposes, and it relates more particularly to a seal of the type comprising a exible metal loop or strap provided with hooks or barbs at its free end, and having a metal keeper housing at the other 10 end of the strap int-o which the barbed strap end is slidingly inserted and then automatically locked therein.

In prior seals of the character there is found the disadvantage that the inserted and locked barbed loop end is not immovably held within and relatively to the housing, but can still be reciprocated therein within limits, since the barbs must first completely move past the sides of the keeper in the housing and are then retracted again to hook over the respective keeper vsides for locking purposes. Between their innermost, i. e. forward and their outermost, i. e. rearward or retracted end positions there is a. certain play, which can be utilized by a skilled tamperer to introduce a specially shaped tool for so manipulating the barbs, that this strap end can readily be withdrawn Jfrom the keeper housing without any outward showing of such tampering.

According to the present invent-ion this drawback is eii'ectively done away with, by providing a lead rivet near the housing` end of the seal, which after the barbed strap end is inserted and initially locked within the keeper, is compressed by a sealing tool whereby the encased keeper housing likewise is compressed and flattened down so that the barbed strap end is thereby immobilized within its o keeper.

In order to make my invention more readily understood, I will now describe it in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view, and

Fig. 2 a plan view of the housing end of the seal; Figs. 3 and 4 respectively are sections on lines 3 3, and 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side view, and Fig. 6 a plan view of the barbed end of the seal, and Fig. 7 is a section 5 on line 7--7 of Fig. 5. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 respectively are longitudinal section, plan view and edge View of the upper portion of the keeper housing, and Figs. 11, 12 and 13 respectively are similar views of the lower portion of the housing. Fig. 14 is a plan View and Fig. 15 a longitudinal section of the initially closed seal, prior to compression of the lead rivet, and Figs. 16 and 17 respectively are a plan view and a longitudinal section of the finally closed seal with depressed keeper housing.

The strap a is provided at the one end, the locking end, with the channeled portion b from which extend terminally and integrally the barbs CZ, and at the other, the keeper end, with the keeper member c. The barbed end, for locking purposes, is inserted into the sleeve e of the keeperl c. For stiiening the strap a where it merges into the member c it is provided with longitudinal strengthening ribs The keeper box c with the sleeve e is hooded by the housing cover 7c which is provided with a cut-out 7L, and which is connected with the housing bottom m by side walls, the part m also being provided'with a cut-out la in registry with the cut-out 71, in the cover k. A partially split lead rivet 0 is arranged in these alined cut-outs, the split portions respectively extending over the top and bottom ends of the keeper housing, as clearly shown in Figs. 15 and 16. Upon impressing into this lead rivet a marking, for instance the date of closure, or the name of the sealing oiiicial or the designation of the sealing station, the cover 7c is forced inwardly until it contacts with the extremity of the provisionally locked barbed strap end (Fig. 17) relatively immobilizing the latter in the locked position.

A locked seal of this type can not be opened for fraudulent purposes without at oncev showing any such tampering attempt.

What I claim is 1. A seal of the type set forth, comprising a iexible metal strap, a keeper member at one end of said strap to receive the other end of the strap, means upon said end of the strap and the keeper member for locking said end of the strap in said keeper member, and

2 remesa separate means surrounding said keeper member and adapted to be deformed upon final closing of the seal for holding said looked end of the strap immobile With relation to 5 the keeper member.

2. A seal of the type set forth, comprising a. exible metal strap, a eompressible housing at one end of said strap, a keeper Within said housing, and eateh means at the other end of said strap for sliding insertion into, and automatic looking engagement in, said keeper, and deformable means overhanging the housing and adapted to deform the same to dispose a part thereof to hold the looked end of the strap immobile with relation'to the keeper.

3. A seal of the type set forth, comprising a flexible metal strap, a compressible housing at one end of said strap having opposite Walls provided With openings therein, .a keeper Within said housing, catch means at the other end of said strap for locking engagement in said keeper, and a soft metal rivet extending through said openings in the Walls of the housing and having portions arranged to overhang said Walls and adapted to be compressed for flattening the housing into .Contact With said catch means and thereby iinmovably retaining the latter in the look- .':o ing position.

4. A seal of the type set forth, comprising a flexible metal strap having a channel-.shaped keeper at one end and a hook-.shaped portion at the other end thereof adapted for interlocking engagement with said keeper, a deformable housing receiving the ends of the strap for retaining said .en-ds in looked engagement, and a metal seal embracing the housing and adapted to be deformed -to bring 40 a portion of the housing into Contact With said hook-shaped portion to immovably retain the latter' in locked position with the keeper. Y

5. A seal of the type set forth, `eomprising a flexible inetal strap provided at the ends With portions adapted to be interlocked upon the bending of the strap, a deformable easing receiving the interlocked ends, land a deformable seal yembracing said easing, said seal and casing when deformed immovably securing the inter-locked ends of the strap.

IMANUEL WILHELM 'MLLER 

